Minimal invasive approach for rib fractures: Feasibility and safety in a single-center experience

Abstract

Background: Current pathologies and the concepts applied for chest trauma, both for revision of thoracic cavity and to solve same traumatisms, have allowed to develop minimal surgery approach techniques for the resolution of multiple nosologies, thanks to their various benefits, currently this has been classified as a vanguard surgical technique worldwide. Material and Methods: Patients undergoing ribs fixation with minimal invasive technique, at ISSEMYM Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery Service, were analyzed according to age, gender, number of ribs fixed, days of hospital stay, days with endopleural tube, type of anesthesia, and complications. We present a series of cases with retrospective, descriptive design in a period of 72 months. Results: This is the largest case series reported for fixing ribs by minimal invasive approach, a final sample n = 103 was used, and favorable results and description of the same technique were described. The analyzed number of fixed ribs presented an average of 3.8 ribs fixed per patient. The average of hospital stay days was 5.08 days, after the procedure. Moreover, the oldest patient undergoing this procedure was 89 years old and the youngest was 23 years old. Conclusions: The technique of fixing ribs by minimal invasive approach continues to be a choice technique to reduce postoperative complications and reduce days of hospital stay, it is a reproducible, safe and pioneering technique for chest surgery, even in geriatric patients.